Call him superstitious but Queensland backrower Corey Parker reckons he won’t be wearing boots with spikes again no matter what the conditions after suffering an horrific leg gash in Origin II.
Parker said on Thursday it was “not uncommon” for rugby league players to tag themselves.
But it seems nothing could quite prepare him – or Maroons staff – for what was revealed after he peeled back his sock following what appeared to be an innocuous hit-up in Queensland’s Origin II loss in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Parker became ashen-faced and some staff were almost physically ill when they first saw the gaping wound that went through to the bone early in the second half.
Unbelievably, Parker is understood to have asked Maroons team doctor Roy Saunders if he could go back onto the field.
Parker underwent surgery in Sydney on Wednesday night but backed himself to be available for the July 4 series decider at Suncorp Stadium when he flew back into Brisbane on Thursday.
Limping into his hometown wearing a moon boot, Parker still seemed to be shaking his head over the freak accident that has earned comparisons with New Zealand Warriors forward Micheal Luck’s disturbing 18cm leg laceration in August, 2010.
“I was just taking a hit-up and tagged myself with my own boot which is not uncommon,” Parker said.
“But I felt it go in and rip right down my shin so it wasn’t too pleasant.
“I don’t usually wear stakes too often. That ground warranted stakes but I won’t be wearing them again I don’t think.”
Asked what he thought when he first saw the gash, an understated Parker said: “I knew it wasn’t supposed to be the case and got treatment straight away.
“I haven’t seen anything like it, not while I have been playing.
“It is just one of those unfortunate injuries.
“When I pulled my sock down I wasn’t expecting to see what I saw.
“The fact it was so deep probably helped with the pain – the pain wasn’t too bad.”
Parker admitted he “had no idea” when he would return but said infection was the main enemy in his battle to return to the field.
“In my business you try to get back as soon as you can and I am no different,” he said.
“It’s just about how it mends but I am a pretty quick healer.
“It was a pretty tough and torrid affair out there and I would like nothing more than to be able to lend a hand in game three.”
